Cooking unit



July 17, 1962 R. BROWN COOKING UNIT Filed Feb. 15, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

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July 17, 1962 Filed Feb. 15, 1961 R. BROWN COOKING UNIT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENToR. EeeaegsE/'Ow/a BY [um /av July 17, 1962 R. BROWN 3,044,459

COOKING UNIT Filed Feb. 15, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INV EN TOR.

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R. BROWN COOKING UNIT July 17, 1962 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Feb. 15, 1961 INVENToR. Beez/65 5mg/fz,

United States Patent (Milice 3,044,459 Patented July 17, 1962 3,044,459 CGOKING UNIT Reeves Brown, Cleveland, Tenn., assignor to Hardwick Stove Company, Cleveland, Tenn., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 89,523 6 Claims. (Cl. 126-39) This invention relates, in general, to cooking units of the type adapted to be installed in a kitchen counter or the like as, for example, on the top of a wood, plastic, metal or other cabinet, or on a kitchen -cabinet work or drainboard or any other suitable supporting structure.

The broad concept of the present invention resides in the provision of a unit having an open box top or housing within which the burners or heating elements and the valves or other controls for the burners or heating elements are disposed, and a pair of complementary hinged cover or top parts, one for the open top of the box where the burners or heating elements are disposed, and the other for the open top of the box where the valves or other controls are disposed.

The provision of a hinged cover or top part for the burner portion of the box, and a supplemental hinged cover or top part for vthe portion of the box within which the valves or other controls are disposed, reduces the size of each cover or top part so that it will be of less weight and therefore may be more easily swung upwardly. In addition, better strength and rigidity and less tendency toward warping of each cover or top part are thus provided, due to the reduced sizes thereof. e

Another feature resides in hinging one cover or top part along one margin of the open top of the box for a swinging movement in one direction, and in hinging the other cover or top part along another margin of the open top of the box for swinging movement in another direction, so that when the cover part for the portion of the box where the valves or controls are disposed is swung to open position, all of the valves or controls are conveniently accessible, whereas when the other cover part is swung to open position, convenient access is permitted to the remaining interior of the box for cleaning, adjustment, re pairs, removal of burners, and the like. y

Another feature resides in the provision of rubber or other suitable stops on ythe cover parts, which stops are engageable, for example, with rim portions or flanges along the open top of the box, to provide air spaces around the margins of the cover parts for entry of air into the box.

Another feature resides in providing one of the cover parts with a flange which when the cover parts are closed underlies the adjacent margin of the other cover part for obstructing vision into the box through any slight space between the cover parts.

Another feature resides in the provision of a hinged cover part for the control portion of the box, wherein this cover part is provided with apertures or openings, which, when the cover part is closed, are positioned over rotatable valve stems or controls to which knobs or the like are removably applied above a portion of this closed cover part, and in which the entire interior of 4the box may be cleaned and the burners and other parts may be removed without removing the knobs and without swinging this cover part to open position. Removal of the control knobs and swinging of this cover part to open position enables full and convenient access to the control valves, air shutters and the like.

Further features and numerous advantages and adaptations of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in connection with the.

accompanying drawings, it being understood that the invention is limited only within the scope of the appended claims and not to the particular embodiment selected for illustration.

In the drawings: y

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooking uni-t embodying the present invention showing the same positioned above one schematically illustrated supporting structure in which it is adapted to be installed; n

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a cooking unit embodying the present invention installed in a fragmentarily illustrated kitchen counter with the hinged cover parts of the unit in closed positions;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 2, with one of the cover parts swung upwardly to open position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view similar to FIGURES 2 and 3, with both cover parts swung upwardly to open positions;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary end View partially in section showing one of the hinge connections for the cover part for the burner portion of the box;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary view showing the inner sideA of the strut, or arm, for limiting upward swinging movement of the cover part for the burner portion of the box and for holding this cover part in raised position; v

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary view showing the pin on one of the burners which lits removably in an opening in the burner bracket; and

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view showing the gas supply tube extending from one of the control valves into one of the burner tubes.

Referring now to the drawings, the cooking unit, according to the present invention, comprises a box or housing 10 of generally rectangular `form having an open top 11, end walls 12 and 13, a back wall 14, a front wall 15, and a bottom wall 16.

The end walls 12, 13, back wall 14 and front wall 15 have mounting flanges 17 formed about the upper porscrews 22 which are screwed into the structure 13 and.

hold the box in position in the opening 20.

The box 10 is similarly installed in the kitchen counter" as illustratedfragmentarily in FIGS. 2, 3 and 4. In FIGS. 2, 3 and 4, the kitchen counter 24 is shown provided with drawers 25 and with a back part illustrated fragmentarily at 26. l

Disposed within the box 10 and extending generally parallel with the right hand end wall 13 is a gaseous fuel manifold 27 to which control valves 28, 29, 30 and 31, one for each of the burners32, 33, 34 and 35 are suitably connected. Each burner has a gaseous fuel supply tube, i.e., pipes 36, 37, 38 and 39 respectively, and these pipes have suitable air inlets 40, 41, 42 and 43 and air control shutters 44, 45, 46 and 47 respectively. Each burner is supported, for example, on a bracket 48 and, as shown in FIG. 7, has a downwardly depending pin 49 which fits removably in an opening 50 in the bracket to maintain the desired positioning ofthe burners and to permit their convenient removal.

The burners 32 and 33 are joined together, for example, lat 52 and constitute a unitary structure for placement within 'and removal from thebox 1l). The burners 34 and Each burner tube 36, 37, 38 and 39 has an open end which, as shown in FIGURE 8, extends over a gas supply ltube 55 extending from the adjacent valve. Gaseous fuel is thus discharged under pressure into the burner tubes when `the valve stems, 57, S8 and 59 are rohated to open positions.

A lighter 60 is supplied with fuel from the manifold 27 by -a tube 60 and has tubes 62 tele-scoping over extension tubes 63 for delivering fuel -Srom the respective burners 32, 33, 34 yand 35 `to a pilot light at 64 when the burners are :turned on. The outer ends of the tubes V`63 have tips 65, which may be injection tips, and which tit re movably in openings in the main burner bodies or adjacent portions of the burner pipes 36, 37, 38 and 39. The gas .thus conveyed .through tubes 62, 63 from the respective burners is ignited by fthe pilot light and the flame flashes back through the tubes 62, 63 and ignites 'the main burners.

The open top of the box 19 is provided with a pair of complementary hinged cover parts 68 and 69. The cover part 68 has downwardly extending marginal flanges or edges 79; also depressed or downwardly rounded annular portions 71 provided with openings 72 which are positioned over the respective burners 32, 33, 34 and 35 when the cover part 68 is in closed position.

Y Grates 73 have annular bars 74 removably supported in the upper ends of the depressions V71. The bars 74 are provided with integral general-ly radial grate lbars 75. Each forward and rearward bar 7S of each grate has an integral pin 76', which lits removably in an opening in the cover part to maintain the desired positioning of the gratos 73. The pins 76 are of suflicient length to prevent displacement of the grates 73 when the cover part 68 is swung tok the open position, .as illustrated lin FIGS; 3 and 4. At 4the same time, the pins 76 provide conveniently removable mountings which permit the gratesto be removed by merely lifting them upwardly from the cover part 68.

The cover part 68 is hinged along theupper margin of rthe back wall 14 of the box 1d for swinging downwardly to closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 2 and upwardly to open position as illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. This hinged mounting'is accomplished, for example, by a pair of brackets 78 secured at 79 to the inner sur-face of the back wall 14. Each bracket 78 has =a longitudinally ex-l tending arm 80, turned upwardly at 81 and carrying a hinge lor pivot pin 82, which extends through or into a suitable opening 83 in .the depending arm of a bracket 84 secured yto the underside of ythe cover par-t 68.

An arm or strut 86 is pivoted at 87 to a bracket 83 secured to the under side of the cover par-t 68. This arm has a slot 89 in which a pin 9i) secured to the inner surface of the end wall 12 engages. The end of the slot 89 opposite the end .toward the cover part 68 is turned laterally at 91, so that the arm 86 will shift to engage the laterally turned end `91 of the slot 89 with the pin 98 to lock the cover part 68 in raised or open position. When it is desired to lower or close the cover part 68 the arm 86 -is pressed to disengage the laterally turned end of the slot from the pin 9i?, and the cover is lowered to closed position. The pin 98 moves yalong .the slot 89Min closing the cover part 68. i

The cover part 68 has secured to the under surface thereof rubber stop members 92, three being illustrated, which when the cover part 68 is swung to closed position engage rim por-tions 93 laround the open top of the box. The engagement yof ythe stop members 92 with the rim portions 93 space the edges br marginal flanges 7d of the cover part 68 from lthe adjacent surf-ace of the counter, for example, about 1/16 inch, and thus provide air spaces around the margins ot the cover part 68 for entry of air into the box 10.

, The complementary cover part 69 has downwardly extending marginal llanges or edges 94 and yau opening 95 beneath which is secured at 96 tothe under Surface Vof the cover pant 69, a suitably nished or embossed plate 97. The plate '97 has openings 98 which are positioned over rotatable valve stems S6-59 `for the respective valves 28, 29, 39 and 31 when the cover part 69 is closed.

The cover part 69 is hinged along the upper margin of the end wall 13 of the box 118 for swinging downwardly to closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and upwardly to closed position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, and upwardl to open position .as illustrated in FlG. 4. This hinged mounting is accomplished, for example, by `a pair of brackets 1% secured at 18d to the inner surface of the end wall 13. Similar to the brackets 78, each bracket 186 has ya longitudinally extending arm 182, turned upwardly at 103, :and carrying a hinge `or pivot pin 184, -which extends into `or through yan opening in the depending `arm 196 of a bracket 107 secured to Ithe under side of the cover part 69.

The cover part 69 has secured to the under surface thereof, rubber stop members 103, two being illustrated, which when the cover part 69 is swung tto a closed position, engage rim portions 93 around the open top of the box. The engagement of the stop members 108 with the rim portions 93 spaces the edges lor marginal flanges 94 from the adjacent surface of lthe counter, similar to the spacing of ithe cover part 68, to provide lair spaces around the margins of the cover part 69 for entry of air into the box 10.

The valve `stems 99 are, for example, split at 1110 and when the cover part 69 is closed project upwardly through the openings 98 `and above the plate 97. Control knobs 112 are applied tothe stems 99 above the plate 97 and 'are rotatable to control the respective 'valves 28, 29, 30 :and 31. The knobs 112 may be removed by merely pulling them from the valve stems.

The hinging of 'the cover part 69 for swinging movement `at right angles to the path of swinging movement of the cover part 68 land its arrangement at the end where the manifold and valves 'are disposed, enables full and complete access to all of .the control valves (and all air shutters and the like, when .the knobs 112 are removed and the cover part 69 is swung to open position.

With the structure described, the entire interior yof the box may be cleaned and the burners and other parts may be conveniently removed by merely opening they cover part 68 and without removing the knobs 112 and opening the complementary cover part l69. K

Since the ends of the burner tubes 36, 37, 38 'and 39 t removably over the gas supply tubes 55 of the respective valves, burners 32 and 33 may be removed as a unit by merely lifting them from the, box, and burners 34 and 35 may be similarly removed, the ends of the burner tubes being merely Withdrawn from positions over the tubes 55 in the course of such removal.

The lighter 68 is likewise conveniently removable with only the cover part 68 in open position.

The edge of marginal flange 94 of the cover part 69, which is presented toward the cover part 68, has a liange 114 which, when the cover parts are closed, underlies the adjacent edge or marginal ange 70 of the cover part 68 and obstructs vision into the -box through any slight space between .these edges of theV cover parts 68 and 69. The embodiment ofthe invention disclosed in the drawings and the specification is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be expressly understood that said drawings and the specification are not to be construed fas a denition of the limits or scope of the invention, reference being had to the )appended claims for that purpose.

I claim: Y

l. A cooking unit for installation in a supporting structure comprising a box open at the top and providing a chamber for cooking top burners and control valves for said burners, cooking top burners disposed in said chamber, control valves disposed in said chamber and having upwardly extending valve stems, said cooking top burners of the open top of said chamber, a rst cover part hinged cated to register with said cooking top burners when said` rst cover part is in closed position disposed horizontally over vthe cooking top burner `area of said chamber, said rst cover part being of an area to cover the cooking top burner area of said chamber when in closed position and adapted to be swung upwardly to open position for access to the cooking top burner area of said chamber, and a second cover part hinged yto the top of said box and provided with openings which 'are positioned over said valve stems when said second cover part is in closed position disposedhorizontally over the control valve tarea of the open top of said chamber, said second cover part being of an area to cover the :control valve area of the open top of said chamberv when in closed position :and adapted to be swung upwardly to open position for access to the control valve area of said chamber, said irst and second cover parts having margins disposed in adjacent relation when said cover parts are closed and the entire open top of said chamber being open and unobstructed over the cooking top burner area and the control valve area when said cover parts are swung to open positions.

2. A cooking unit according to claim 1, wherein the first cover part is hinged to the top of the box along its longitudinal Arear margin and said second part is hinged to the top of the box along its outer side margin for swinging movement in a direction Iat right angles to the path of swinging movement of said rst cover part.

3. A cooking unit according to claim 1, wherein there are control knobs for removable application to the valve stems over a portion of said second cover part when said second cover pant is in closed position.

4. A cooking unit according to claim 1, wherein one of the first and second cover parts has yalong the margin disposed in adjacent relation to the margin of the other cover part -a liange which underlies `the ladjacent margin of said other cover pant when said cover parts are closed.

5. A cooking unit according to claim 1, wherein each of said rst and second cover parts has on the under portion thereof stop members engageable with rim portions along the open top of the box to provide air spaces around the margins of said cover parts for ent-ry of air into the box.

6. A cooking unit according to claim l, wherein each of said irs't and second cover parts has on the under portion thereof rubber stop members engageable with rim portions along the open top of the vbox to provide air spaces around the margins of said cover parts for entry of air into the box.

References Cited in the lile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,742,660 Maclnnes Ilan. 7, 193() 2,107,972 Antrim et ral. Feb. 8, 1938 2,712,818 Chambers July 12, 1955 2,806,464 Williams et al Sept. 17, 1957 2,939,453 Kamin June 7, 1960 

